Trunk-caster.



i' No. 666,565. l y APatented 1an. 29, Ism.

G. J. DAWSON.

TRUNK CAST'E-R. 'mppicmon med Aug. 25, 1900.)

UNITED; STATES PATENT Ormes.

GEORGE JANES DAVISON, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN T. BUTLER AND JOHN M. WARREN,

OF SAME PLACE.

TRUNK-CASTER.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 666,650, dated January29, 1901.

Application filed August 25, 1900. Serial No. 28,064. (N model.)

To @ZZ whom it Wuty concern.:

Be it known that I, GEORGE JANES DA- vIsoN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Richmond, county of Henrico, State of Virginia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvementsin Trunk-Casters, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings, in .which- 1o Figure l is avertical sectional view of my improved `device applied to a bottom stripof a trunk; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the caster; Fig. 3, aperspective view thereof, and Fig. 4 a detail sectional view of thecupshaped body inverted.

The object of the invention is to provide an antifriction-ball casterespecially adapted for trunks which shall be extremely simple, durable,and inexpensive and be capable of 2o easy application to the bottomstrip of a trunk,

as more fully set forth.

The invention consists of an inverted cylindrical cup-shaped body ct,forged or cast of a single piece of metal and havingits closed z 5 top bmade convex on its inner face and having an external stop-ilange cformed around its lower open end, the extreme lower edge or rim of thecup being tapered oftl to form a thin edge d, which is capable of beingbent 3o inward toward a large floor bearing-ball e to confine the samein the cup. This floor-ball bears upon a smaller ball f, confinedbetween it and the top part of the cup and resting in a central recessin said top part. On the ex- 3 5 terior of the cup and extending thefull length thereof and connecting with flange c is a series oflongitudinal sharpened ribs g.

In assembling the parts the cup is inverted and the smaller ball isfirst dropped into its 4o recess. Then the large floor-ball is droppedin on the small ball, and then the tapered flange d is bent inward closeto or lightly in contact with the ball allaround. The device is thenready for application to a trunk. In

the bottom strip of the trunk a round hole is bored approximately equalin diameter to the diameter of the cup, and into this hole the cup isdriven, closed end first, until its flange c comes against the underside of the strip.

5o In driving the cup home the knife-like ribs g out into the wood atseveral points around the hole, and thereby securely bind the cup in thehole and prevent its turning therein or its ready withdrawal therefrom.In inserting the cup into the cavity the blows necessary to force it toplace may be delivered directly on the floor-ball, (or on anintermediate cushioningblock held in the hand of the work mam) sincethis ball and the smaller ball are to be made of steel, and the top partof 6o the cup is made integral with the cylindrical casing and isthereby capable of withstanding the strain incident to driving thedevice to place. The making of the inner side of the top part convex andproviding it with a central ball-recess not only strengthens that part,and thereby renders it sufficientlyy strong to take the strain (whichwill sometimes be quite severe) incident to driving the cup into placeand to the rough handling trunks are fre- 7o quently subjected to, butalso facilitates the assembling of the parts, in that it insures theproper positioning of the smaller ball, whereby delay in putting theparts together will be avoided. Thus employing a single central ball inthe convex top part insures the impact and strain brought on the ballsbeing transmitted directly throughthe centers ot' the balls to thearched top part, whereby injury to the shell, which is desirably made 8olighter in weight, is avoided.

To further secure the device from accidental removal, I form on theupper end of each of the cutting-ribs an extension h, which is pointedand slightly beveled or dared outward 8 5 away from the cup, so thatwhen the cup is` driven .into its cavity these lingers or points willcome in contact with the usual metal plate or strip on the bottom of thetrunk and be clenched, as shown in Fig. l. 9o

It will be observed that my device is extremely simple in construction,is capable of withstanding the roughest handling without derangement ordetachment, and may be appiled with ease and without the use of screwsor other attaching devices. The special feature of utility lies in thefact that it is so constructed as to not only withstand thecomparatively great strains` and blows trunk-casters are subjected to inpractice, but also the roo severe blows necessary to drive it tightly toplace in the bottom strip.

It is evident that this caster may also be or more cutting-ribs on itsexterior having employed for articles of furniture and other elenohingextensions ou their upper extremiapparatus Without departing from theinventies.

vention in the least. In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my 5 Havingthus described my invention, What signature, in the presence of twoWitnesses, 15

I claim isthis 24th day of August, 1900.

A Castel" consisting of a cup-shaped body GEORGE JANES DAVISON. part,closed at its upper end and open at its Witnesses: A lower end andinelosinga Hoor-ball in its open W. P. TALIAFERRA, 1o end, said bodypart being provided With one A. L. HAYNES.

